The Art Jess Scholarship is open to Alaska residents who are Alaska Native, American Indian, and/or Hawaiian Native, and is intended to assist Alaskans with their post-secondary education, including but not limited to trade schools, vocational schools, undergraduate and graduate schools, community colleges and distance learning. Applicants are encouraged to review and consider the scholarship preferences prior to submitting an application.
Art Jess was a champion for the spiritual and social advancement of humanity in general and of Native American people in particular. According to his daughter, “Art believed in the best of people, that the world is a beautiful place, that all is well, and that everything will work out.” Art was a lifelong learner and believed that a person never really graduated until life was over.
The minimum scholarship amount will be $1,000 per scholarship. The number of awards and amounts given per year may vary.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Alaska resident
- Alaska Native, American Indian, and/or Hawaiian Native
- Applicant must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 at the high school or post-secondary level (i.e. your current education level)
Preference is given to the following applicants:
- Chilkat Valley resident or Chilkat Indian Village or Chilkoot Indian Association tribal member
- Completion of one year of post-secondary education or current enrollment in the first year of post-secondary education
- Previous Art Jess Scholarship recipients
Applicants will be asked to provide:
- Proof of Alaskan residency
- Proof of Alaska Native, Native American, or Native Hawaiian ethnicity if applicable
- Three current (written and dated within 12 months) letters of recommendation. If the applicant is a previous Art Jess Scholarship recipient, one current recommendation letter must be from a program advisor or professor if the applicant hasn’t yet chosen a program (major)
- Résumé of education, work experience, activities, personal interests, honors/awards, and community service/volunteer activities
- A personal essay which includes experiences growing up, family, special talents, interests, and post-secondary goals including what type of degree/field of study applicant is pursuing and what led you to this field of study
- Community service essay describing community service, volunteer activities, and any honors and/or awards
- Official transcripts for high school or post-secondary (minimum GPA of 2.5)
- Statement of financial need including the cost of attending (tuition, books, room, board, travel, and personal expenses); school financial aid package; scholarships and other funding; personal contribution; family contribution; total unmet financial need; and any extenuating circumstances that reflect financial need.
IMPORTANT: Scholarship recipients must submit their student ID number and program information to ACF through the online system before their award can be disbursed. If we do not receive the above information by June 30, 2024, the scholarship may not be awarded. Please contact ACF if you cannot send in the information by this date.
Contact The Alaska Community Foundation with questions: scholarships@alaskacf.org or 907-334-6700